Football

Heads-up defense sparks Bulldogs’ win over Delhi

By RICHARD A. ROSS

DELHI, NY — When it comes to football, it’s a dog eat dog world.

Hungry for revenge from last year’s home-opening defeat against Delhi Academy, the Sullivan West Bulldogs proceeded to make a meal of their Delaware county rivals on September 4.

The Carolina blue and silver Bulldogs from Lake Huntington outplayed their Burgundy and White namesakes from Delhi, posting a convincing win over the 2001 Class C State Champions.

Crowding together just prior to the kickoff, Sullivan West players rallied to the cry, “We’re a family. Everybody here plays hard.”

Those words were backed up with big plays on both sides of the ball as the Bulldogs proceeded to stymie the team that came into their house last year and embarrassed them 27-6.

After Delhi’s John Burgin received the opening kickoff from Joe Meyer and broke through the middle of the field to the 39-yard line, fullback Nick Cappiello got off some effective runs. Sullivan West’s defense initially looked a bit tentative. Perhaps it was a case of first game jitters.

But those jitters soon vanished.

Though Delhi drove the ball to the Sullivan West 22, a couple of jarring tackles by Jim Erlwein and Steve Musso exacted a big price for the acreage. Cappiello went down with a knee injury never to return. Shortly thereafter, middle linebacker Musso came up with a huge interception after Delhi had driven the ball into the red zone. The stalwart middle linebacker was just beginning to show his mettle on an afternoon when he would register 22 tackles, four of which threw Delhi ball carriers for losses.

Last season Sullivan West alternated Joe Meyer and Cory Hornicek at quarterback, but this year it is Meyer calling the signals. Sullivan West went to work from its own 31 with Erlwein carrying the ball for gains of seven and 11 yards. Cory Hornicek ran for five more yards before Scott Peters took off on a counter play galloping 49 yards for a touchdown.

Once Peters got loose in the backfield, he turned on the jets and no one came close to catching him. Watching him run, one could not tell that last year’s leading scorer was nursing a tender ankle. The extra point kick was blocked and Sullivan West led 6-0 with 5:00 left in the first quarter.

Sullivan West’s defense held Delhi on its next series. As the second quarter got underway, the Bulldogs were driving again, this time using the quickness of Orion Darder and a completed pass from Meyer to Andre Trujillo. Unfortunately, two excellent chances to score slipped away in what could have been a serious turn of events. First a touchdown by Darder was called back as the referee flagged Steve Daley for a block in the back. Then Sullivan West had a first and goal on the four-yard line, but was unsuccessful on four plays in an attempt to break down Delhi’s red zone defense. Sullivan West turned the ball over on downs and the score remained 6-0.

Sullivan West forced Delhi to punt again and began a late first-half drive that appeared to continue after Trujillo caught a pass and lunged forward across the plane of the first down marker. Sullivan West coaches unsuccessfully argued the ref’s spot of the ball short of the first down and Delhi took over. They elected to run out the clock as the half expired.

Sullivan West’s first drive of the second half not only netted six points, it also used up nine minutes of clock. Using a nice mix of runs by Peters, Darder, Daley and Hornicek, Sullivan West sustained a drive to the one-yard line. Daley took the ball in and Sullivan West went out in front 12-0 with 3:00 left in the third quarter. Meyer’s attempted pass on the two-point conversion was broken up.

Meyer’s kick off went deep and Delhi took over on its own 14. Quarterback Travis Mahler, who was effective last year in passing and using the option, attempted to get his team moving. He was soon foiled by an interception courtesy of Darder. After the offense failed to capitalize on the turnover, Meyer sent a booming punt to the right hand corner of the field. On a heads-up play, Darder downed the ball on the one-yard line.

Mahler decided to deploy running back Nate Rockefeller and Delhi seemed to be on the verge of gaining some momentum until Sullivan West’s John Glassel caused a fumble.

Junior Brian Hubbert pounced on the loose ball. “I’ve been wanting to do that my whole football career,” he yelled as he came off to receive congratulations from players on the sideline.

Sullivan West’s only turnover of the game came on the next drive as Delhi defensive end Kevin Wilbur picked off a Meyer pass with 6:11 left.

No harm done. Some shattering tackles by Musso and company and a fumble recovery by John Kitson preserved the shut out.

“Excellent job fellas, Spackenkill is next,” said coach Ron Bauer, reminding his team that come Monday it would be right back to work in preparation for the away game on September 11.

Motivation? How about two losses to Spackenkill in successive years, including last year’s 37-8 thrashing aided by a serious ankle injury to Trujillo, and when the Bulldogs led 19-0 at halftime and lost 20-19 two years ago.

Spackenkill won its opener this week, defeating Tappan Zee 34-6.

Here’s the skinny on the game stats:

Scott Peters 11 carries for 87 cards, a 49-yard TD

Jim Erlwein 4 carries for 22 yards

Joe Meyer completed 4 out of 10 passes for 72 yards

Andre Trujillo received 3 catches for 31 yards

Orion Darder received 1 catch for 41 yards

Total offense 176 yards of rushing, 81 yards of passing

Steve Musso 22 tackles, four for losses, an interception

Jim Erlwein 15 tackles, six for losses

Orion Darder an interception

Brian Hubbert and John Glassel fumble recovery

Total defense four sacks, forced four turnovers. Delhi’s 35 plays netted 150 yards.